Converting logs to wood chip

Frodo2

Member
Why was it such a big mistake?

I have plenty of wood on the farm and have been contemplating putting in a log biomass boiler. For small scale i have heard chip has problems and pellet means buying wood.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
Why was it such a big mistake?

I have plenty of wood on the farm and have been contemplating putting in a log biomass boiler. For small scale i have heard chip has problems and pellet means buying wood.

People put in log boilers but forget to read the small print. ie the efficient operation of the boiler relies on timber with a moisture content less than 20%. They then feed it with timber at 30% and wonder why its not getting hot and using 3 times as much timber as predicted.
 

supercow

Member
Location
Dumfriesshire
think its an E classic? I wouldn't put another log burner in, @Frodo2 . doesn't matter how much wood u have it will be used up in no time! I'm shutting the biomass down for a couple months to let wood dry that we will split anytime to try get it dryer for the winter so its efficient through the winter. ours is a 75 kw boiler, u really need to store at least 100 ton of split wood for it to run efficiently, and once uv used 50 ton u need to split another 50 ton, continually storing 100 ton is very expensive and labor intensive! I was just wondering if its possible to convert the boiler, not change it. possibly put a woodchip auger into the furnace or something like that
 

Frodo2

Member
think its an E classic? I wouldn't put another log burner in, @Frodo2 . doesn't matter how much wood u have it will be used up in no time! I'm shutting the biomass down for a couple months to let wood dry that we will split anytime to try get it dryer for the winter so its efficient through the winter. ours is a 75 kw boiler, u really need to store at least 100 ton of split wood for it to run efficiently, and once uv used 50 ton u need to split another 50 ton, continually storing 100 ton is very expensive and labor intensive! I was just wondering if its possible to convert the boiler, not change it. possibly put a woodchip auger into the furnace or something like that
If the problem is the time required to season wood, will switching to woodchip actully solve the issue?
 

wilber

Member
Location
wales
think its an E classic? I wouldn't put another log burner in, @Frodo2 . doesn't matter how much wood u have it will be used up in no time! I'm shutting the biomass down for a couple months to let wood dry that we will split anytime to try get it dryer for the winter so its efficient through the winter. ours is a 75 kw boiler, u really need to store at least 100 ton of split wood for it to run efficiently, and once uv used 50 ton u need to split another 50 ton, continually storing 100 ton is very expensive and labor intensive! I was just wondering if its possible to convert the boiler, not change it. possibly put a woodchip auger into the furnace or something like that

I have a 90kw log boiler and i use roughly 50 ton a year, i love it. i can process around 35 ton of logs in a day so one weekend and im done for the year. Always try and have 2 artic loads stacked on site with a sheet covering the top ready for the following year.
 
think its an E classic? I wouldn't put another log burner in, @Frodo2 . doesn't matter how much wood u have it will be used up in no time! I'm shutting the biomass down for a couple months to let wood dry that we will split anytime to try get it dryer for the winter so its efficient through the winter. ours is a 75 kw boiler, u really need to store at least 100 ton of split wood for it to run efficiently, and once uv used 50 ton u need to split another 50 ton, continually storing 100 ton is very expensive and labor intensive! I was just wondering if its possible to convert the boiler, not change it. possibly put a woodchip auger into the furnace or something like that

Did the supplier not tell you how much timber you would need before you installed it? Sounds like someon didn't get given / make a sensible fuel plan?

I doubt it could be modified, chip entry in to a chamber is not easy to fit after, assuming the boiler is even certified for chip which I doubt.
 

renewablejohn

Member
Location
lancs
think its an E classic? I wouldn't put another log burner in, @Frodo2 . doesn't matter how much wood u have it will be used up in no time! I'm shutting the biomass down for a couple months to let wood dry that we will split anytime to try get it dryer for the winter so its efficient through the winter. ours is a 75 kw boiler, u really need to store at least 100 ton of split wood for it to run efficiently, and once uv used 50 ton u need to split another 50 ton, continually storing 100 ton is very expensive and labor intensive! I was just wondering if its possible to convert the boiler, not change it. possibly put a woodchip auger into the furnace or something like that

Dont judge all boilers by the performance of the E Classic. Just looking at the "RHI" certificate would have sounded alarm bells for me. Tested with Beech at 16% MC ???.
 

wilber

Member
Location
wales
I have a Central boiler e-classic 3200, i have no problems with it. It's not a perfect machine as i find it awkward to clean.

When was it last serviced? i found mine went poor when the air vents became filled with ash. i now strip the internal air panels off twice a year clean all the gunk out and hoover right back to main air box. It's performance was completely different after i did this. Be warned it's a filthy job, takes a bit of time, and the boiler will need to be very cool when you do this as you pretty much have to climb inside the firebox.
 

f0ster

Member
I had to attend one of these for blowing fuses, turned out to be a solenoid short circuit. the importer took 8 weeks to supply the part and they had it in stock . as they have a monopoly they do not need to try any more.
 

wilber

Member
Location
wales
Yes Bentley fire shop are the UK distributors and are a bunch of useless a holes, they do not like to deal direct and shove you off to other 3rd party companies they have agreements with.
 

f0ster

Member
I would have ordered the part from the states it would have been quicker but as they are 110 v it might have been difficult to get the part. I ended up saying to them that if I do not get this part in two days I will be writing to Central boiler requesting they remove their monopoly here in the UK. a bit of competition is what is needed.
 

supercow

Member
Location
Dumfriesshire
Did the supplier not tell you how much timber you would need before you installed it? Sounds like someon didn't get given / make a sensible fuel plan?

I doubt it could be modified, chip entry in to a chamber is not easy to fit after, assuming the boiler is even certified for chip which I doubt.
il be honest it was a rushed decision as the tariff was dropping and it needed to be in and fitted within like 2 weeks of deciding which biomass to go for.and dad was going on holiday while doing the signing for things so he just quickly looked at how much each boiler was going to cost and looked at how much timber cost per ton/wood chip and pellets and just made the rushed decision of putting the log boiler in. if the woods right the thing is a doddle. I might just get logic to do the cleaning when the biomass is turned off. i don't have time/cant be arsed with that
 

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